Instructional target-sighting device



June 6, 1950 R. E. PAIGE 2,510,413

INSTRUCTIONAL TARGET SIGHTING DEVICE Filed Feb. 6, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Piz-G.

, lNvENToR /P/CHA/Qo E PA /GE ATTORNEYS June 6, 1950 R. E. PAlGE 2,51,413

INSTRUCTIONAL TARGET SIGHTING DEVICE 2 sheets-sneak Filed Feb. 6, 1945 llllllfll/l( Y INVENTOR /P/CHA/Po /DA/GE BY fm ATTORNEYS Patented June 6,' 1950 UNITED STAT/Es PATENT. OFFICE V'NSTBUCTIONAL TARGE'rf-,sIGHTING DEVICE Riehara E. Paige, New York, vN. Y. Application February 6, 1945, serial No, 576,497

" 9 Claims.

' This invention relates to an instructional target-sightingv device for use upon a 'rifle or'other hand held 'rearm.

It' has heretofore been considered standard practice when teachinga student rileman rthe art of correctly aiming a'rie ata target in order rto obtain aY correct sigh't picture, to employ what is known as'a sighting bar. This sighting bar is approximately six feet long, made of wood, and Y has mountedtheren 'imitation sights together with a means for lsupportinga target element at one end thereof. While Aa Student may obtain a correct sight picture by the usebf a sight 'bar he is 'not' experiencing the same feeland' obtainc instead of teaching him ltarget sighting on Vone device and expecting him to have learned enough to' translate what he has learned to another unfamiliar device. It is therefore one of the important'objects of this invention to consolidate the practice of target sighting and' the useof rifle sights into a single instruction, which considerably reduces the instruction' timenecessary toeiciently train a student in the art of target sighting.

Another feature of the invention resides in an instructional target-sighting device which is supported upon the discharge end'of'a riflewithout injury to the barrel or bore thereof.`

-A further feature Vof the invention is to provide an instructional target-sighting device in which the target element is adjustably supported ina novel manner to facilitate easy manipulation' by the instructor While the riile is held in steadyV aiming position by the student to permit alinement of the bulls-eye of the target element with the rifle sights in order to present a correct sight picture to the view of the student. 1

A further feature of the invention is the provision of an instructional target-sighting device which is supported in position by a stem inserted into the bore of the rifle. The stem is tapered outwardly in a manner to enable the same to be tightly tted 4into the bores of varied caliber rifles, thus eliminating the necessity of manufacturing thedevices in different caliber sizes.

Other novel features of the invention will become apparent as the following specication is readin'conju'nction with the accompanying drawings, in which,

' Figure 1 is a perspective view of the rifle target- Ysighting device inuse.

Figure 2 is aside elevational view partly in section'of the target-sighting device in position upon the end'of the barrel of a rifle. Figure?, 'is a vertical transverse sectional View on the line 3-3 of Figure 2, the dotted lines illustratin'g the vertical'adjustment and the dot and dash lines illustrating the radial adjustment'of the target element.

Figure 4 is a vertical transverse sectional View on the line 4--4 of Figure 2, the bulls-eye of the target element being in correct sight with the guide sight of the rifle.

'Figure 5 is a horizontal sectional view on the line'5-5 of Figure 2.

' Figure 6 isa collective perspective view of the several parts of the target-sighting device in separated relation.

Figure 7 is a vertical transverse sectional view illustrating the target element in reverse position to bring a different shaped bulls-eye into sighting position.

Figure 8 is .a side elevational view of a'modi'- ed form of my invention.

Figure 9 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view of the device illustrated in Figure 8.

Figure 10 is a vertical transverse sectional `viewl taken on the line llll ll of Figure 8.

Referring to the drawings by reference charac-A ters and at present to the form of the invention illustrated in Figures 1 to 7 inclusive, the numeral l0 designates my instructional target-sighting device in its entirety which is composed of anv attaching and supporting member ll, a target element I2, and a cap member I3. n

' The attaching and supporting member Il is preferably constructed of wood but may be made of 'plastic which is less susceptible to expansion and contraction by atmospheric elements. The' member Il includes a cylindrical body I4 having flat end faces l5 and I6. Integral with the body I4 and extending beyond the end face I5 is a stem l1 which is concentric with the axis of the body. The stem I1 is round in cross section and gradually decreases in its diameter in an out-'- wardly direction. The stem Il may be a continuous taper 4from its inner to its outer end, but to reduce the length of the stem and render-thel same adaptable to fit two diierent diameter rie` bores, I provide an outwardly tapered inner stenr 3 portion I8 and a stepped reduced outer tapered stem portion Iii.

Integral with the body I4 and extending from the ilat end IS thereof is a stud or pin 2U. The pin 2i) is round in cross section and is concentric with the body I4 and stem I'I. The pin 20 is provided with a slot 2| extending inwardly from the free end thereof to render the same resilient and has roundedouter.edgeslz .to facilitate the easy insertion into the bore of the cap member I3 hereafter to be described.

The target element I2 is flat and substantially rectangular in shape and is constructed of stii cardboard or plastic material. 7The 'tar-getelement I2 includes a central nger grip portion 23 having an elongated slot 24 therein 4which-'extends lengthwise of the element and is of a width substantially equal to the diameter of Athe pin 2D. Integral with the central portion 23 is areduced end portion 25 and an opposed enlarged end portion 26. Printedon .one or both sides of the end spectively. The'bulls-eye'i isin the 'forrniof a round black dot while'thebulls-eyeZ is a 'black silhouetteof the head and shoulders cfa human. The reduced end portion 25 imparts tothe eye of 4a-.userthe proportionate outline of a slow iireitarget .while .the ,wider vend portion '26 .imparts the proportionate outline of a rapid fire target, the size of rsaid end portions lbeing Aproportionate to thesize of the respective bulls-eyes 2 and '28.

The cap member I3 is constructed of wood or plasticmaterial and comprises a cylindrical Abody 2B having a central bore 30 extending 'therethrough. The diameter of the bore Sil is thesame orafractionlless than the diametervof the resilient split .pin 29 to tightly receive the `pin for reasons to be hereinafter explained.

JForuse, .the parts I I, .I2 and I3 are assembled inthe following manner. 'The split resilientrpin 2U of the .supporting member VII is .forcibly Yiriserted .through the slotf2l1 of vthe 'target element I2 until the Vfiat shouldered face I -abutslthe front face of `the target element I2. The split pin;20 is .now .in .tight .frictional engagement with the opposed `side .walls .of the slot ,2li so `that Vthe target element I2, under normal conditions, will not moverelative .to the pin. However, Vby grasping the mid-portion 23 of the target Yelement .the same-may be slid back .andiorth atright angle to the axis ofthe pin as indicated -in dotted lines in Figure 3 `and turned on .the axis thereof .as shown in dot and Ydash lines in Figure 3 -.to obtain acorrect sight picture as will bemore lfully eX- plained hereinafter. The .friction 'between the wallsofthe slot2ll and the resilient pin ,is suicient to hold the target element I'2.in any of its adjusted positions. ,fIoicomplete the assembly, the .cap .member I3 is inserted .upon .that portion of the split pin 2li whichprojectsrearward of thetargetelement I2. The pin 2i) enters the bore 30 .and when the inner `end of the capmember abuts therear face of the target element I2, it too acts to clamp the targetina fixed adjusted position-.against the shouldered face I6 y of thesupportingmember. The cap member is held upon the I.split pin 2li against accidental separation by the friction between the pinand the walls of the bore 3i). .The .cap .member I3 -also-conceals the split pin and .imparts asymmetrical appearance to .the device as a whole.

In Figures 1 to inclusive I have illustrated the instructional V.target-sighting -device IIJ as 4being mounted in position `of use upon .thedischarge end of -the barrel A of arrifle B. .The soft tapered I'IIS 4 stem I1 is inserted into the open end of the rifle bore C of the barrel A for frictional wedging engagement therewith and without injury to the bore. With the target-sighting device I so positioned upon the barrel of the rifle, the student rifleman may now be handed the rifle for target sighting instructions. In Figure 1 of the drawings, I have illustrated a student rifleman D in .thefacttof targetsightingnnder :the direction of ,an instructor E. The ibulls-eye 27 of the target element I2 is presented to the front and rear sights F and G respectively of the rifle and it is the rifiemans task to aline the bulls-eye 2l with the sights F andiG to obtain `a correct sight picture. The sight G is protected by upstanding guard .members H-H respectively disposed on opposite sides thereof. To obtain the correct sightpictura `fthe iinstructor E grasps the midportion 1:23 of the target element I2 between his fingers so as not to interfere with the sight vision of the student, and under thedirections of thestudent'D,'the instructor moves the target element up, down or sideways until the student informs `him that he has obtained a correct sight picture. The student D `no w'hands the rifle tothe instructor E who, in turn, .checks the accuracy7 of the students sighting by placing the rifle to his own shoulder and Vlooking through the sights thereof at'the bulls-eye 27. 'To obtain a vcorrect picture, the bulls-eye should appear superposed over the sight G as illustrated in Figure 4.

Should 'it be desired to bring the 'silhouette bulls-eye '28 into target-sighting position, it is onlylnecessary .to impart `a half revolution of the target element upon 'the axis ofthe 'pin2L .In Figures 8 to Y[l0 inclusive Ihave illustrated a modified form wherein thev split pin in is formed integral withjthe 'cap member'l. lThe cap member 4I is 'formed with a fiat ngergrip Yportion {iZby .which'i't .may'bevgrippe'd whenrinserting the pin d through the slot .'24 of the target element I2. 'The split -pin VIII `is provided with a reduced portion Vi3 which .tsinto .are'duced borefporition in the tubularstem M. "Thestem '44 is Vprovided witha series of tapered stepped portions 4.5 toy 'facilitate 'the insertion of Vthestem 'into .rifle Lb'ores o'f different diameters or caliber. The largee'nd of the stem ,424 frictionally fitsontothe split ,pin :i3 and cooperates with the .cap member 4I for frictionally holding the target lelement I2 invariousadjustedpositions. By reason v4of the constructions'hownin Figures V8'to 1Q, thecap member .lil and stem 44 may bemoldedof plasticmaterial.

While -I have shown anddescribed what .fI jconsider to be the mostprac'tical embodimentsof my invention, I wish Vit to be understood `that such changes in constructionmaterial, and design fas come -withinthescope of `the appended claims maybe .resorted to :if vdesired without departing from the spirit iof my inventionas herebeforeset forth.

Having thus described my invention, what vI claim as new and desire to secure 'by Letters Patent, is:

T1. instructional sighting device for fire-v arms coniprising in combination, a holder includ ing 'a pair of-separable frictionally telescoping sections, .a stem extending from one of said sections adapted to frictionally fit into the bore of the barrel of .a firearm at the discharge end thereof, a'fla'tltarget element having `anelorigate'd slot therein, the inner of the ytelescoping sections passing through saidrslot, saidsectionsjhaving portions for engaging said element and maintaining same in adj usted position.

2. An instructional sighting device for lirearms comprising in combinatioma holder including a pair of telescoping sections, one of said sections having a stem for frictional t into the bore of a firearm at the discharge end thereof, and a flat target element, the latter having an opening to permit said element to be shifted transversely of said holder and to be rotated with respect thereto, said sections being shaped to clamp said element between them in adjusted position.

3. An instructional sighting device comprising a at target element having an elongated slot therein, a holder including a pair of separable inner and outer cylindrical telescoping sections having confronting shoulders, the inner section passing through said slot and disposed in tight frictional engagement with the Walls thereof, said target element being disposed between said confronting shoulders, and a stem secured to one of said sections and extending axially therefrom for frictional fit into the discharge end of the bore of the barrel of a firearm.

4. An instructional target-sighting device comprising in combination, a holder including a body portion, a tapered stem extending from one end of the body portion for frictional fit into the bore of a rifle, a split resilient pin extending from the other end of said body; a target element comprising a flat elongated body having an elongated slot therein, a bulls-eye on the front face of said body beyond one end of said slot, said resilient pin extending through said slot in frictional engagement with the opposed walls thereof, and a cap member fitting upon the resilient pin in abutting engagement with the rear face of the body of the target element.

5. In an instructional target-sighting device for rines, a target element having an elongated slot therein, a supporting member having a split resilient pin extending through the slot and in frictional engagement therewith, and an outwardly tapered stem member having a socket in its inner end into which the resilient pin tightly ts.

6. An instructional target-sighting device for rifles comprising a target element having an elongated slot therein, a holder for said target element including a pair of separable inner and outer telescoping sections, the inner section passing through said slot, said sections having portions shaped to engage the opposite faces of the target element to permit movement thereof relative to the axis of the sections and hold said element in adjusted position, and a stem on one of said sections and extending axially therefrom `for frictional fit into the discharge end of the bore of the barrel of a rie.

'7. An instructional target-sighting device for ries comprising a at target element having an elongated slot intermediate the ends thereof, a holder for said target element including a pair of axially alined separable inner and outer telescoping sections having confronting shoulders, the inner section passing through said slot with the opposite flat sides of the target element in confronting relation to the respective shoulders, and a rigid stem on one of said sections extending axially therefrom for frictional fit into the discharge end of the bore of the barrel of a rifle.

8. An instructional target-sighting device comprising in combination, a holder including a body portion, a tapered stem extending from one end of the body portion for frictional fit into the bore of a rifle, a split resilient pin extending from the other end of said body; .a target element comprising a at elongated body having an elongated slot therein, a bulls-eye on the front face of said body beyond one end of said slot, said resilient pin extending through said slot, a cap member fitting upon the resilient pin, and means for lightly holding the target element between the body portion of the holder and said cap member forpreventing accidental movement of the target element relative thereto.

9. An instructional target-sighting device for firearms comprising a body having a stem projecting from one end, said body having a shoulder at the junction thereof with said stem, the opposite end of the body having a stud and a shoulder at its junction with said stud, a at target element having a longitudinal slot through which said stud passes, and a cap on the stud securing the target element against the last named shoulder in adjusted position, said element being movable rotatably and radially with respect to the axis of said body.

RICHARD E. PAIGE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the iile of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,277,932 Hollifield Sept. 3, 1918 

